Codependents with a history of relationship abuse need to enter romantic relationships with awareness and respect for their neediness and unmet childhood dependency needs. Codependents are some of the most loving people and find it difficult to leave abusive relationships. They have a tough time accepting that abusive partners will not change over time no matter how much they want them to. Learning to recognize personality disordered character traits is imperative in protecting your vulnerabilities as you complete your own emotional work.

Character traits are patterns of behaving, feeling, perceiving, and thinking, which are evident in our personal and social relationships. Although our character can be changed, it typically remains the same and affects us all of our lives. Personality traits turn into personality disorders when they become inflexible, do not adjust to relationship needs, and significantly damage social and job functioning or cause considerable misery. Often, the people who live and work…